Project Topic: The Effect of Electrolytes on Foaming Agent (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)

The Effect of Electrolytes on Foaming Agent (sodium dodecyl sulfate). Josh Gray.
Sodium dodecyl sulfate is used as a foaming agent in shampoo and body wash to give the appearance of cleanliness. Studies have shown that electrolytes affect the amount of foam that can be produced. The electrolytes tested are sodium chloride in distilled water and three different kinds of Gatorade. The product that produced the most foam was the mixture of Gatorade Recover and sodium chloride. The total volume of the foam was on average 30 milliliters. Gatorade Perform and sodium chloride was close behind with an average of 27.5 milliliters. The least effective solution was the control, distilled water and sodium dodecyl sulfate. That mixture had an average of 8.75 milliliters of foam. The higher amount of foam formed by the Recover and the Perform mixtures was due to their higher concentration of electrolytes. If shampoo and body wash companies want to have more foam in their products, they will have a higher concentration of electrolytes. The next phase of the research was to try and produce a shampoo using the data attained in the earlier experiments. The ingredients used to make up a shampoo like solution were: Distilled water, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sodium chloride, Fabric softener, and Guar gum. The purpose of the trials were to attain the closest substance to shampoo as possible. The different methods used in attempting that were heating, cooling, both heating and cooling, and different methods of mixing. The 6th trial was the most effective where the variables were: 50mL water, .20g sodium dodecyl sulfate, 20mL fabric softener, .50g guar gum, and the guar gum was added slowly and stirred with a fork. This trial was the closest to a shampoo, and when rubbed on skin and cloth it yielded some suds which is the same way an actual shampoo would react.
Keywords: Electrolyte, Gatorade (Prime, Perform, Recover), Sodium chloride, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Foaming agent, Electrolyte, Surfactant, Amphiphilic, Fabric softener, Guar gum, Distilled water


Hypothesis: If a more concentrated ionic electrolyte solution is added, then more foam will be produced


Journal Article:
Powale, R. S., & Bhagwat, S. S. (2006). Influence of Electrolytes on Foaming of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Journal Of Dispersion Science & Technology, 27(8), 1181-1186. doi:10.1080/01932690600859804

Other Helpful Webistes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_dodecyl_sulfate

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/information/question565.htm

http://www.australab.com/blog/make-shampoo/shampoo-ingredients-how-to-make-shampoo/

Lab Procedure:

  • Obtain a 250mg beaker and put 10mg of Sodium Lauyrl Sulfate into container with 50mg of water
    • Mass the beaker
  • Stir the mixture of Sodium Lauyrl Sulfate and water for 30 seconds
    • Mass beaker
  • Measure out 20 mg of (Prime, Perform, or Recover) Gatorade in a graduated cylinder
  • Pour the Gatorade into the mixture of Sodium Lauyrl Sulfate and water
    • Stir for 30 seconds
  • Record the effects the different concentration of electrolytes has on the mixture
    • Mass beaker
    • Height of foam?
    • (i.e.) how much foam was produced? What additional effects did the Gatorade have on the mixture, or what effects did not occur?
  • Repeat for each of the different kinds of Gatorade
Part II
  • Obtain 250ml beaker make a solution of 75mL of water and 3.0 grams of NaCl using stir plate
  • Add 20mL of fabric softener
  • Add .20 grams of sodium dodecyl sulfate
  • Once ingredients are completely dissolved, removed from stir plate
  • Mass out .30 grams of guar gum and add slowly while stirring with fork to avoid clumping
  • Depending on directions heat, cool, or leave in room temperature for 24 hours
  • Observe

Materials:
  • Distilled water
  • Gatorade Prime (G1)
  • Gatorade Perform (G2)
  • Gatorade Recover (G3)
  • Sodium chloride
  • Sodium dodecyl sulfate
  • 250 mL graduated cylinder
  • 250 mL beaker
  • Stir rod
  • Stir bar
  • Stir plate
  • Stopwatch
  • Weigh boats
  • Gram scale
  • Guar gum
  • Fabric softener
  • Fridge
  • Hot plate
  • Fork

Safety:
  • Goggles
  • Gloves
  • Make sure Sodium Lauryl Sulfate does not come in contact with eyes or mouth because it can cause irritation

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